Disasters in North Korea

Floods and flash floods cause the highest reported disaster mortality in North Korea. From 1991 to 2020, disasters affected about 51 million people and killed more than 3,000. Drought alone affected more than 31 million people, while floods, droughts and storms together accounted for more than 99% of reported affected people. Forest degradation and soil erosion increase flood and landslide risks, while climate change adds uncertainty around extreme rainfall and flooding. Nampo, Pyongyang, South Pyongan, North Hwanghae and South Hwanghae are among the areas with high exposure. About 22.43% of economic capital is exposed to flooding, 95.01% to high cyclone winds, 91.82% of agricultural production to drought and 18.24% to flooding. Coastal and port infrastructure also faces storm surges and salt intrusion. The North Korean Law on Disaster Prevention, Rescue and Rehabilitation, adopted on 27 June 2014, establishes duties for disaster prevention, rescue and reconstruction. The State Committee for Emergency and Disaster Management leads nationally, while provincial and county disaster bodies, line-ministry disaster focal points and People's Committees carry out local functions. The State Hydrometeorological Administration monitors and forecasts weather and water conditions. The Geographical Information Institute contributes satellite and mapping information. Warnings may be distributed through government and sectoral organizations, domestic computer networks, telephone and mobile services, television, vehicles and word of mouth in remote villages. Evidence from the 2016 North Hamgyong flood found that warnings and evacuation were activated, but limited warning awareness, weak risk zoning, missing standard procedures, gaps in measurement and water-monitoring infrastructure and weak local implementation reduced their effectiveness. Preparedness measures include community-based disaster-risk reduction, flood-damage prevention and rehabilitation, riverbank and embankment repairs, reforestation, agroforestry, slope rehabilitation, irrigation improvements, dryland farming, crop diversification and off-grid solar or biogas systems. These measures focus especially on cooperative farms and counties exposed to repeated hazards. No reliable nationwide household emergency checklist or public shelter register has been independently verified. There is also no verified nationwide public emergency telephone system, self-registration process or uniform evacuation standard. Government bodies lead rescue, evacuation, relief and reconstruction. The Red Cross Society supports search and rescue, evacuation, first aid, emergency supplies, water and sanitation assistance, often with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Strategic stocks can include tarpaulins, cooking sets, quilts, hygiene supplies, water-treatment materials and shelter tools. Evacuations are generally warning-led and organized locally. Individual access may depend on official permission, roads, communications and the availability of transport and shelter. In 2016, flooding affected up to 16,400 buildings and 27,000 hectares of farmland and interrupted water supplies for about 600,000 people. In 2018, heat reached up to 11°C above normal and flooding affected about 340,000 people, displacing more than 11,000. Typhoon Lingling in 2019 potentially exposed about 5.3 million people and displaced 6,362. Recovery commonly covers homes, roads, bridges, railways, water and sewer networks, embankments, irrigation systems, schools, clinics, farmland, power facilities and ports. The government coordinates reconstruction, while United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations may provide shelter, water and sanitation materials, food and agricultural inputs. International assistance usually follows a government request and needs assessment. Humanitarian exemptions from United Nations sanctions may be required, and movement restrictions, financing, banking, imports, logistics and monitoring can delay delivery. Assistance generally reaches affected households and communities through state bodies, cooperative farms or Red Cross structures, with priority often given to children, women, people with disabilities and those facing acute need. No general cash benefit, standard compensation rate or fixed nationwide application deadline has been reliably verified.